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Monthly Archives: August 2014

The dry season in Bali is between the months of April and September, this is also the time of year that Bali receives the most visitors, however the temperatures at this time of year are only marginally hotter than the rest of the year and occasional rainfall can still be expected. Often even the locals in Bali are amazed at how much rainfall they experience in the dry season and how little they receive during the wet season.

The rainy season that falls typically from October to March can see temperatures drop at night to 15 degrees, and is often the quietest time of year in terms of visitors but the islands close proximity to the equator provides a warm tropical climate that is a huge draw for tourists who enjoy an average temperature of 30 degrees all year round with humidity levels at around 85%.

For those who find high temperatures a little hard to handle it is advisable to find accommodation near the coast where the fresh breeze provides a welcome relief from the heat.

Dress code

The dress code in Bali is pretty casual and men can get away with a smart pair of shorts and shirt just about anywhere, even in the more expensive venues. For the ladies wide blouses and thin linen trousers are acceptable, however when visiting temples long sleeves and sarongs are a must. And it goes without saying that sun protection is a must if you are not used to hot tropical climates so don’t forget to pack some factor 50 and a sun hat.

Language

English can be considered the third language in Bali after Indonesian and Balinese. Most Balinese have basic English skills due to tourism. You will find that many locals speak with an Australian twang thanks to between 600,000 to 700,000 Australian arrivals each year. Like most countries if you do manage to pick up and use a few words in the local language you will suddenly find yourself with many friends. Most big hotels have staff who speak English, French, Spanish and German. When it comes to ordering food most menus are in English and some do not even have an Indonesian version. Some restaurants provide menus in Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Russian, but generally these will only be found in Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua and Seminyak.

Local travel agencies can help with tour guides who speak Japanese, Russian and Korean. In the tourist sector Indonesian is the most commonly used language. A lot of Javanese and Indonesians from other islands have entered the tourism sector and live and work on the islands so on the streets it is Bahasa Indonesia that is the language most commonly heard. Bahasa Indonesia is very lose to Malay and is taught in school and is the language spoken in government offices.

Nightlife

Bali is renowned for its nightlife and has more than its fair share of pubs, clubs, discos and beach bars. Many venues offer affordable drinks, food and entertainment while others cater for the upscale market with cocktails, imported beers, world class cuisine and world class musical acts. Fridays and Saturdays are popular nights to party for locals, expats and visitors to island and many venues invite DJ’s from all over Asia to entertain guests at the weekend.

Many of the bars in Bali offer happy hours around sunset, once darkness falls the restaurants start to fill up and as the night draws in many restaurants turn into nightclubs and the tables and chairs give way to dance floors. Bali has many great spots for night owls who hop from club to club to enjoy different music styles and atmospheres such as hip and contemporary, rowdy and wild and elegant and sophisticated. Around Kuta many of the clubs start to get busy around midnight